Wire-fence machine.



PATENTED FEB. 2l, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wb uw gwuafntoz No. 782,859. PATENTED EEB. 21, 1905. W. L. D. LAKEY.WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30,1903

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 782,859. PATBNTBD PEB. 21, 1905. W. L. D. LARRY. WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30,1903A 3 SHEBTS-SHEET 3 i I l 'o wvv/wbonNog-782,859.

UNITED STATES Patented February 21, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

WVILLIAM L. D. LAKEY, OF TIPTON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTHS TOCHARLES J. GRISSMER AND JOHN T. ADAMS, JR.,

OF TIPTON, INDIANA.

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,859, dated February21, 1905.

Application filed November 30, 1903. Serial No. 183,279.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I WILLIAM L. D. LAKEY of Tipton, county of Tipton, andState of Indiana, have inventedk a certain new and useful VVire-FenceMachine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and eXact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved machine formaking wire-fence fabric wherein U-shaped palings are employed and thestrand-wires are to be twisted between the legs of the palings. Thenature of this fabric is the same as that shown in the patents to JohnIN. Dwiggins, No. 474,952, for a wire fence, issued May 17, 1892, andNo. 494,983, issued April 4, 1893, for a-wirefence machine; but thismachine can make other sorts of wire fence, and I do not wishto limit itto any particular kind.

One feature of the invention consists in providing a constructionwherein the means that actuates the twisters also disengages thetwisters and the strand-wires from each other after the twist has beenmade, so that this part of the operation is automatic and it is notrequired to operate a separate means in order to disengage thestrand-wires and the twisters.

Another feature of the invention consists in mounting the twisters on anoscillatory mech- .anism that is oscillated to bring the twisters andaway from the twisters.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of a machine inoperation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine with the twistingmechanism thrown up out of engagement with the strand-wires, parts beingbroken away. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of a twisting'mechanism and the means for mounting and operating the same, parts beingin side elevation and parts broken away. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation ofthe upperI part of the machine, parts being broken away. Fig. 5 showsthe left-hand end of what is shown in Fig. 4 with the parts in asomewhat diiferent position. Fig. 6 is a detail of the means for aliningthe palings.

The machine herein shown is one of a type wherein the twisters aremovable away from the strand-wires as distinguished from the type ofmachine wherein the twisters are stationary and the strand-wires aremovable to eral features of this invention are applicable to both typesof machines, that herein shown will explain the general nature of saidinvention.

In operation a plurality of pairs of strandwires l() are stretched in ahorizontal position by means on each side of the machine (not shown) andindependent of it, so as to hold the strand-wires substantially in theposition herein shown. The track-rails l1 extend between said means forholding and stretching the strand-wires. The machine is moved back andforth along the strand-wires and on the track for the purpose of weavingin with the strand-wires the U-shaped palings l2. In the fence shown inFig. l there are two shapes and sizes of said palings, the outer onebeing simply U-shaped and the inner one having its legs crossed, asshown. The inner one lits within the outer one. These palings are formedof wire bent in the shape shown. The invention is not limited to anyparticular form or manner of paling, excepting where. the strandwiresmust be twisted between palings or parts thereof.

The machine consists of a frame and o f certain parts mounted thereon.The frame con- Although sevsists o f a horizontal portion 13 and avertical l portion formed of the posts 14 and top crossbar 15. Thevertical portion is braced by two braces 16. The horizontal portion ofthe frame is mounted on truck-wheels 17, which run upon the track-rails11. The cross-bar 15 constituting a part of the frame has horizontaltransverse holes 18 through it for the passage of the strand-wires.These strandwires are stationary while a section-say of twenty or thirtyyards-of the fence is being built, and the machine is moved laterallywhile in use, so that the strand-wires are supported and guided midwayby said holes 18. Both strand-wires of each pair pass through a singlehole, and it should be large enough to permit them to pass freelythrough the same.

In operating the machine the U-shaped pallings are insertedlongitudinally between the two wires of each pair of all thestrand-wires. To render this easy and practical, a spreader 2() extendsbetween the wires forming each pair of strand-wires and has fiatportions where it rests between said wires, the width of which isconsiderably greater than thc thickness, so that when the spreader is inthe position shown in Fig. 1 the strand-wires of each pair will be closetogether; but when the spreader is turned in the position shown in Figs.2 and 3 the strand-wires will be spread apart, so that a paling 12 canbe readily inserted. The spreader is mounted rotatably in the outer endsof the arms 21, that are secured to the frame and extend forwardtherefrom, so that they carry the spreader in advance of the frame ormainbody of the machine. The spreader has an upturned end 22, that formsa handle for operating the same.

Ihile a paling' is being inserted, as shown in Fig. 2, the twisters 25are held above and out of engagement with the strand-wires. In order totwist the strand-wires between the legs of the paling, it is necessaryin the machine herein shown to bring the twisters 25 down intoengagement with the strand-wires, as shown in F ig. 3. Then the spreaderis turned upward from the position shown in Fig'. 2 to that shown inFig. 1, and afterward the twisters are operated and the strand-wirestwisted. Then the twisters are elevated away from the strand-wires fromthe position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2.

The twisters 25 are toothed wheels slotted radially slightly beyond thecenter and mounted rotatably in a twister-head formed of two plates 27and 28. The twisters 25 have laterally-extending hubs to fit in roundopenings in the plates 27 and 28, and said plates at their lower endsare provided with a downwardlyextending A-shaped slot 29, thatcorresponds and registers with the slot in the twister as the twistermechanismis lowered to bring the twister into engagement with thestrand-wires,

much the same as shown in the patent to Conner, No. 459,926, datedSeptember 22, 1891,

for a netted-wirc-fabric machine. The plate 28, forming a part of thetwister-head, is secured rigidly to a tubular arm 30, and the plate 27is secured to the plate 28 by spacers 31. W'ithin the arm 3() a shaft 32extends, which carries on its front end a pinion 33, that meshes withthe twister 25 for operating the same.

The tubular arms 30 are rigidly secured to a hollow frame or box 34,that at each end has pins 35, pivotally mounted in plates 36, extendingupward from and secured to the crossbar 15, constitu ting a part of themain frame. rIherefore while the plates 36 are stationary the arms 30and the twister mechanisms are mounted oscillatory in said plates.Within each of the frames or boxes 34 there is a pinion 37, mounted onthe rear end of each of the shafts 32, that pass through the arms 30,and these pinions 37 all are engaged and actuated by a sliding' rack-bar38, that has its teeth extending upward and rests with its back upon thecross-bar 15 of the main frame. It moves between and is guided by thedownwardly-extending legs 39 of the plates 36, whereby said plates aresecured to the crossbar 15 of the frame. The rack-bar 38 is limited inits movement by the stops 4() and 41 at each end that abut against theend of the crossbar 15 of the main frame. These stops are so placed asto cause the rack-bar to give the desired number of rotations,preferably two and one-fourth, to the twisters and to bring the slot ina twister to the desired place with reference to the slot at the lowerend of the twister-head. This construction is such, too,

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that it will not prevent the elevation of the twister-heads, and, infact, when they are elevated sufficiently to escape the strand-wires, asshown in Fig. 2, the rack-bar can operate the twisters, as the pinions37 will still be in actuating engagement with the rack-bar, and the rackcan operate said pinions as long as the teeth of the. two intermeshregardless of the angular position of the pinions.

The rack-bar is actuated by the lever 45, which is forked and pivoted at46 to the upper end of two bars 47, that are secured to the cross-bar 15of the main frame. Each downwardly-extending'arm of the lever 45 ispivotally connected to one end of a connectingbar 48 on each side ofsaid cross-bar 15 and rack-bar 38. These connecting-bars 48 are at theirother ends pivotally connected with the rack-bar by a pin 49. Saidconnectingbars 48 are curved downwardly, as shown, in order that theywill not interfere with the strandwires during the operation of therack-bar. Therefore the operation of the lever will cause thereciprocation of the rack-bar and the operation of the twisters ineither direction.

The twisters are elevated and lowered into and out of engagement withthe strand-wires by the following means: Ashaft 50 is mounted inbearings 51, secured to posts 14 of the frame.

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lt carries cranks 52, to which connecting-bars 53 are pivoted at oneend, and at the other end said bars are pivotally connected with thetubular arms 30 by stirrups 54, which are clamped by screws 155 to thearms 30. This stirrup arrangement renders the connection between thearms 30 and bars 53 adjustable. so that the position of the twisters canbe fixed and predetermined. The shaft 50 is actuated by an L-shapedlever 55, that at one end is secured to said shaft and at the other endhas a handle. It is drawn downward by a spring 56, which tends to throwthe twisters upward and out of engagement with the strand-wires. Asimilar spring 57 on the other end of the shaft 50 cooperates with thespring 56, it being secured at its upper end to a crank-arm 58 on theshaft 50. The twisters are moved down into engagement with thestrand-wires by throwing the lever 55 forward into the position shown inFig. 1, and when in that position it is caught by a catch 60, secured onthe back ofthe post 14. That catch holds said lever up and the twistersdown in operative engagement with the strand-wires. When, however, thelever 55 is moved laterally off said catch 60 by any means, the springs56 and 57 immediately throw the lever 55 down and the twisters up out ofengagement with the strand-wires. To render this part of the mechanismpositive, the shaft 50 is mounted so as to have a slight longitudinalplay and a spring 61 is placed about it and presses at one end againstthe bearing .51 and at the other end against one of the cranks 52, sothat it tends to press said shaft 50 to the left, as shown in Fig. 1,and that tends to move the lever 55 over into positive engagement withthe catch 60.

The lever 55 is disengaged from its catch by throwing it to the right,as shown in Fig. 1, and that also slightly moves the shaft 50 -to theright against the action of the spring 61. This disengaging movement ofthe lever 55 and the twisters is caused.by a finger 63, that isadjustably connected with the end of the rear connecting-bar 48 by thebolts 64, passing through a slot in said finger. Said finger 63 is aflat spring that will pass the lever 55 as the connecting-bar 48l ispushed inward or to the right, as shown in Fig. 4; but after the end ofthe linger 63 has passed the lever 55, as shown in Fig. 4, and the lever45 and rack-bar 38 are reversed the reverse movement of the rearconnecting-bar 48 to the left, as seen in Fig. 4, will dislodge thelever 55 from the catch-plate 60.

The leg of the paling' after it has been inserted is alined or madestraight transversely of the strand-wires to make a fence fabric ofaccurate design by the ends of two arms or rods 70, that extend from thecross-bar to the front andare utilized also as an additional support forthe spreader, as seen in Figs. 3 and 6. The outer ends of these rods orarms are provided with a notch 71, as seen in Fig. 6, in position t0engage the inner leg of the picket and push it into alinement when themachine is brought up to the work each'timc after a picket has beeninserted. A guide 72 also projects forwardly from the bar 15 in adirection parallel with the strand-wires,the heads of the palings beingcaused to abut against said guide when the palings are introducedbetween the strand-wires to insure the heads of the palings being alinedwith each other, and thus imparting to the fence a uniform height at allpoints throughout its length.

The machine, as shown in Fig. 1, has the parts in their position afterthe strand-wires have been twisted between the legs of a paling andslightly after thereverse movement of the lever 45, rack-bar, andtwisters has been made. The machine is there shown pushed back from thepalings in an unusual position in order that the view of the parts ofthe machine would not be obstructed by the palings. Just at the time ofthe complete operation of the twisters in the process of twisting thestrand-wires their slots are not in line with the slots in the lowerpart of the plates 27 and 28; but the twisters make about onefourth of aturn farther to the right. Then the lever 45 is moved toward the leftand the twisters are reversed in their rotary movement, so that theslots in the twisters move down into alinement with the slots in theplates 27 and 28, and that is the position of the parts shown 'in Fig.1; but about the time the slots in the twisters come into alinement withthe slots in the plates 27 and 28 the finger 63 on the rear bar 48moving to the right, as shown in Fig. 1, pushes the lever 55 o the catch60, and all the twisters are thrown upward to the position shown in Fig.3. The machine is then pushed back on its track somewhat away from thepalings into the position shown in Fig. 1, although it need not be quiteso far as there shown. The spreader 20 is then turned from the positionshown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, a paling inserted fromthe right-hand side of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, to the leftbetween the strand-wires. The machine is then moved forward from theposition shown in Fig. 1 up against the fence already made until thetwisters extend about midway over the paling, as seen in Fig. 2, and theends of the alinement-arms force the IOO IIO

inner leg of the paling into the desired transis thrown backward fromthe position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 1, so that thestrand-wires will come close together in the middle of the twisters. Thelever 45 is then pulled toward. the operator to the right to theposition shown in Fig. 1, which will cause the operation of thetwisters, and the process above outlined is repeated for each paling.

IVith the twisters set considerably to the front the machine does nothave to be moved so far away from the work every time a paling isinserted, as there is more room for the operation of the workman than ifthe twisters were located beneath or above the rack-bar 38 and theframe. The spreader oscillates always with the machine, so that it isnever out Y of place, and its supports act as means for 1. In a machineof the kind described, thev combination with twisters and means forholding strand-wires so they will be engaged and twisted by thetwisters, of a single lever that operates the twisters and disengagesthem and the strand-wires from each other.

2. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with twisters andmeans for holding the strand-wires stationary and so they will beengaged and twisted by the twisters, of a single lever that operates thetwisters and moves them from the strand-wires.

3. In a machine of the kind described, a stationary frame, anoscillatory frame mounted in connection therewith, twisters carried bysaid oscillatory frame in advance thereof and means carried by saidframes for operating' the twisters.

4. In a machine of the kind described, a bar having holes in it forreceiving the strandwires, twisters, means pivotally connected with theframe in vertical alinement with said holes 'for carrying the twistersin advance of the frame and in alinement with the holes, and means foroperating the twisters.

5. In a machine of the kind described, twisters, oscillatory armscarrying the twisters, mechanism for oscillating said arms for movingIthe twisters into and ont of engagement with the strand-wires, and meansfor op` erating said twisters.

6. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, a reciprocatingrack-bar, arms pivoted to said frame and extending in advance of therack-bar, twisters carried by said arms in advance of said rack-bar, andmeans carried by said arms for transmitting motion from thel rack-bar tothe twister mechanism.

7. In a machine for weaving palings with strand-wires, a machine-'framemovable along' 'the strand-wires, twister mechanism carried by saidmachine frame, and a horizontal spreader mounted in connection with saidframe for vertically spreading the strand-wires for the insertion of thepalings.

8. In a machine for weaving palings with y,strand-wires, a machine-framemovable along the strand-wires, twister mechanism carried by saidmachineframe, and a horizontal spreader mounted in connection with saidframe in advance thereof and extending between said strand-wires.

9. In a machine for weaving palings with strand-wires, a frame, twistermechanism carried by the frame in advance thereof, and a horizontalspreader mounted in combination with the frame and between the frame andtwister mechanism for spreading the strandwires for inserting thepalings.

10. In a machine of the kind described, a frame having holes in it forthe strand-wires, twisters mounted in advance of the frame and inalinement with the holes, and a spreader between the frame and twisters.

l1. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, suitable twistermechanisms carried by and mounted in advance of the frame, and meansbetween the frame and twister mechanisms for alining a paling.

12. In amachine of the kind described, twisters, means that holdstrand-wires in position to be engaged by the twisters, spring-actuatedmechanism that moves said twisters away from the strand-wires, a catchthat holds said mechanism from the action of the spring, and means thatoperates the twisters and also disengages said mechanism from the catchto permit the spring action thereof.

13. In a machine of the kind described, twisters, means that hold thestrand-wires in position to be engaged by said twisters, mechanism thatmoves said twisters into engagement with the strand-wires, a spring thatresists said movement, a catch that engages said mechanism and resiststhe action of the spring, and means that operates the twisters and alsodisengages said mechanism from said catch and permits the spring to act.

14. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters, means forholding strandwires in position to be engaged by said twisters,oscillatory means on which the twisters are carried in advance of theframe, a shaft mounted on the frame, cranks on said shaft,connecting-bars extending from said cranks to the means for carrying thetwisters, and a lever secured to said shaft that operates it and movesthe twisters into and out of engagement with the strand-wires.

15. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters, means forholding the strandwires in position to be engaged by said twisters,oscillatory means on which the twisters are carried in advance of theframe, a shaft mounted on the frame, cranks on said shaft,connecting-bars extending from said cranks to the means for carrying thetwisters, a lever secured to said shaft that operates it and moves thetwisters into and out of engagement with the strand-wires, a springtending' to actuate said lever so as to disengage the twisters from lthestrand-wires, a catch for engaging said lever to resist the action ofthe spring, and means for operating the twisters and also disengagingsaid lever from the catch.

16. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters, means forholding strandwires in position to be engaged by said twisters,oscillatory means on which the twisters are carried in advance of theframe, a shaft mounted on the frame so as to have a slight longitudinalmovement, cranks on said shaft, connecting-bars extending from saidcranks to the means for carrying the twisters, a lever secured to saidshaft that operates it and moves the twisters into and out of engagementwith the strand-wires, a spring tending to actuate said lever so as todisengage the twister mechanisms from the strand-wires, a

catch that engages said lever to resist the action of the spring, aspring on said shaft tending to draw it and said lever toward and intoengagement with said catch, and' means for operating the twistermechanisms and also disengaging said lever from the catch.

17. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, tubular arms pivotallymounted in connection with said frame and extending in advance thereof,twister mechanisms mounted on said arms, means for operating saidtwister mechanisms, a shaft mounted in connection with the framework,cranks on said shaft, connecting-bars pivoted to said cranks andconnected with said tubular arms, and a lever secured to said crankswhereby the twister mechanisms are elevated and lowered.

18. In a machine of the kind described, .a frame, tubular arms pivotallymounted in connection with the frame and extending in advance thereof,twister mechanisms mounted on said arms, means for operating saidtwister mechanisms, a shaft mounted in connection with the framework,cranks on said shaft, connecting-bars pivoted to said cranks at one endand at the other end secured to said tubular arms so as to be adjustablelongitudinally of the latter and a lever on said shaft whereby thetwister mechanisms are elevated and lowered.

19. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, arms extending inadvance of the frame, an inner plate secured to the outer end' of eachof said arms, an outer plate, spacers that secure said plates together,a shaft extending through each of said arms, a pinion on each end ofsaid shaft, twisters mounted between said plates to mesh with saidpinions at one end of said shaft, and means for actuating' the pinionsat the other end of said shaft.

:20. In amachine of the kind described, a frame, twister mechanisms, areciprocable rack-bar mounted on the frame for operating the twistermechanisms, a lever pivoted to the frame near one end of said rack-bar,and a connecting-rod extending from said lever and pivotally connectedwith the other end of the rack-bar.

2l. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twister mechanisms, areciprocable rack-bar mounted on the frame for operating the twistermechanisms, a lever forked at one end to form two arms that` arepivotally mounted in connection with one side of-the frame, and a pairof connecting-bars extending from the arms of said level', one on eachAside of the frame and pivotally connected to the remote end of saidrack-bar.

22. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters` means thathold strand-wires in position to be engaged by the twisters, means onwhich the twisters are carried in advance of the frame, a shaft mountedon the frame, cranks on said shaft, connecting-bars extending' from saidcranks to the means for carrying the twisters, a lever on said shaftthat operates it and moves the twisters into and out of engagement withthe strand-wires, a spring tending to elevate said twisters, a catchthat engages said lever and resists the action of the spring, a rack-barand mechanism for operating the twisters, a lever for actuating saidrack-bar, and means connected with said last-mentioned lever fordisengaging the other lever from said catch so that the spring will actto elevate the twisters.

23. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters, means thathold strand-wires in position to be engaged by the twisters, oscillatorymeans on which the twisters are carried in advance of the frame, a shaftmounted on the frame, cranks on said shaft, connecting-bars extendingfrom said cranks to the means for carrying the twisters, a lever securedto said shaft that operates it and moves the twisters into and out ofengagement with the strand-wires, a spring tending' to elevate saidtwisters, a catch that engages said lever and resists the action of thespring, a rack-bai' and mechanism for operating the twisters, a leverpivoted to the frame at one side thereof, connecting-bars extending fromsaid last-mentioned lever and pivoted to the relnote end of the rack-barfor actuating it, and a springfinger on one of said connecting-hars thatwhile moving' in one direction disengages the other lever from saidcatch but when moving lin the reverse direction will not affect suchlever.

24. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters, means thathold strand-wires in position to be engaged by the twisters,oscillatory'means on which the twisters are carried in advance of theframe, a shaft mounted on the frame, cranks on said shaft,connecting-bars extending from said cranks to the means for carrying thetwisters, a lever secured to said shaft that operates it and moves thetwisters into and out of engagement with the strand-wires, a springtending to elevate said twisters, a catch that engages said lever andresists the action of the spring, a rack-bar and mechanismV for,operating the twisters, a

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lever pivoted to the frame at one side thereof,

25. ln a machine of the kind described, a

frame, plates secured to the frame and extending from the same in pairs,a reciprocable rackbar mounted on the frame and movable through saidplates, a box pivotally mounted between each pair of said plates, atubular arm connected with said box and extending forward, twistermechanisms mounted on the forward end of each arm, a shaft extendingthrough each of said arms and box, a pinion mounted in said box on saidshaft in engagement with said rack-bar, and means for oscillating saidarms so that the pinions will in all positions of said arms be inactuating engagement with the rack-bara 26. ln a machine of the kinddescribed, a frame, twisters mounted in advance of tho frame, and armsextending from the frame toward the twisters for aliningl the paling'.

27. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters mounted inadvance of the frame, arms extending from the frame toward the twistersand notches in the ends of said arms for receiving and alining thepaling'.

28. ln a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters mounted inadvance of the frame, a spreader, and means secured to the frame forholding said spreader between the frame and twisters, said holding meansbeing in transverse alinement and formed to aline a paling when themachine is movedV up to its work.

ln witness whereof l have hereunto affixed my signature in the presenceof the witnesses herein named.

WILLIAM L. l). LAKEY.

Witnesses:

V. H. Locxwoon, Jol-IN T. ADAMS, Jr.

